[News] Mike Richards on waivers - CLEARS

[the2bears]

Originally Posted by Tinordi

At this point I'm using this thread to gauge who's opinions to value and who's not to.

So, any update on who is opinions and who is not to?

[Phanuthier]

Originally Posted by transplant99

No proof of anything otherwise...but i dont believe this to be true at all.

IIRC the best years are between 27-31 (or at least thats how it used to be) but maybe that has changed as the game has gotten younger. Just not sure its been "younger" long enough to have that kind of data.

I have no proof either, but I've seen so many NHL players just mysteriously drop off and go from superstars to fringe NHL players at 27 or 28... it looks like between the style of play (and how many playoffs games he's played in those last 5 years) and his physical game, he just loses a step. I think I read somewhere in football, running backs are done in when they hit 30 (disclaimer: I know nothing about football though)

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Phanuthier

I have no proof either, but I've seen so many NHL players just mysteriously drop off and go from superstars to fringe NHL players at 27 or 28... it looks like between the style of play (and how many playoffs games he's played in those last 5 years) and his physical game, he just loses a step. I think I read somewhere in football, running backs are done in when they hit 30 (disclaimer: I know nothing about football though)

Running backs seem lucky to have a career over a couple seasons.

[cannon7]

Is Richards the next Michael Peca?

Is he still partying too hard?

[united]

Darryl Belfry, skills coach of: Crosby, P. Kane, Duchene, MacKinnon, Tavares, Backlund, Okposo, Pacioretty, Skinner, Parise, Ladd, etc. weighs in on Richards:

Mike Richards was never an NHL calibre skater, but he made up for it with ridiculous anticipation skills and feel for the game - feel meaning, getting in the flow and rhythm of the game. The biggest limitation to not being an NHL calibre skater, is when your game (reliant upon anticipation/feel/flow and rhythm) is out of rhythm - by all of a sudden playing bottom 6 minutes. The things you relied upon to drive your offense are now disconnected. Mike Richards hasn't played bottom 6 minutes in his career. He has always played top 6 minutes, so I can just imagine how awful he feels after sitting for long stretches - he can't get the timing of his game. A recent example of this was Brad Richards in NYR, when Torts had him in the bottom 6 he also became disconnected with the anticipation/feel/flow and rhythm that drives his offensive timing and reads. Now in Chicago, he plays, not necessarily top 6 minutes, but consistent minutes - he was able to salvage his career. Sadly, Mike Richards is better off in the AHL, because until someone gives him top 6 minutes - he will never recapture his game.

This is the trouble when you aren't and NHL calibre skater, your game doesn't really decline as much as it falls off a cliff. Everyone can speculate on his training, his off-ice lifestyle and alike, which are all contributing factors I'm sure - but the skating is what's killed him. Mike Modano and gifted skaters like him could redefine their career playing a multitude of different roles and minutes without losing all ability to contribute - because the skating was always there - they could always get there to make a play. Richards can't get there - and all his other tools that help him thrive/survive are stripped away with the diminishing minutes.

Sad to see such a gifted mind become reduced to this.

http://www.twitlonger.com/show/n_1sk9t1k
https://twitter.com/belfryhockey

[sureLoss]

John Hoven speculates Nashville could be interested in Richards

The Mayor John Hoven @mayorNHL
Said that Nashville should be interested in Mike Richards. Badly needed depth at center. Need a winner. Plus connection to coach. #Preds

The Mayor John Hoven @mayorNHL
#Preds also have not been able to attract top notch free agents. Here is a chance to get a guy under LT contract without giving up assets.

[Azure]

Sounds about right. There are lots of rumors of his lack of being in top shape, but he has always been a bad skater. Not that it held him back the last 10 years. If he would retire now it would still be one hell of a run. 2 cups, 1 gold medal, numerous playoff runs. Great career.

I don't think he's done yet. Sometimes a guy has to hit bottom to start over again.

[Yoho]

Man would Nashville be doing the Kings a favour.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

John Hoven speculates Nashville could be interested in Richards

The Mayor John Hoven @mayorNHL
Said that Nashville should be interested in Mike Richards. Badly needed depth at center. Need a winner. Plus connection to coach. #Preds

The Mayor John Hoven @mayorNHL
#Preds also have not been able to attract top notch free agents. Here is a chance to get a guy under LT contract without giving up assets.

I get that Richards has a connection with Laviolette, but I don't think it's a good one is it? You know, "dry island" and all that.....

[JohnnyHockey]

Originally Posted by Frequitude

For those wondering, he carries a $5.75M cap hit for the next 4 years (through the 2018-2019 season).

Actual cash owed starting next season is $6.0M, $5.5M, $4.5M, $3.0M.

The cap hit in the last two years is not bad at all. I would love to pick him up and move Stajan out, even if it is for something minor. I would argue that Richards is just as good, if not a better mentor to the young players.

EDIT. Sorry cap hit remains the same at 5.75M. I retract my statement.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHockey

The cap hit in the last two years is not bad at all. I would love to pick him up and move Stajan out, even if it is for something minor. I would argue that Richards is just as good, if not a better mentor to the young players.

The cap hit doesnt change, it's 5.75 for the entire contract.

Those other numbers are the salary he makes in those years.

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

I get that Richards has a connection with Laviolette, but I don't think it's a good one is it? You know, "dry island" and all that.....

Well they did almost win a SC together.

[sureLoss]

Also his contract is for another 5 years after this season, not 4.

[Roof-Daddy]

Originally Posted by transplant99

Well they did almost win a SC together.

Yeah, I knew that, but wasn't there a controversy during that run where Richards and Carter were said to be too into partying, and Pronger and some others weren't happy about them not being able to abstain from it until the playoffs were over?

...and then that off-season Holmgren blew it up and sent both Richards and Carter packing.

[Oling_Roachinen]

Originally Posted by JohnnyHockey

I would argue that Richards is just as good, if not a better mentor to the young players.

The guy who got traded in his prime after reaching the Stanley Cup final because of excessive partying and arguments with his coach?

I would not be completely opposed to Richards, depending on circumstances, but he wouldn't be here as a mentor.

[BigRed]

Belfry comments are fascinating. Any team out there able to give him top 6 minutes? Could he resurrect his career in the right circumstance? He was a Team Canada regular FFS

[transplant99]

Originally Posted by Roof-Daddy

Yeah, I knew that, but wasn't there a controversy during that run where Richards and Carter were said to be too into partying, and Pronger and some others weren't happy about them not being able to abstain from it until the playoffs were over?

...and then that off-season Holmgren blew it up and sent both Richards and Carter packing.

well there was a massive divide in that dressing room...and yes Pronger was on one side of it for sure.

The young guys had fun for sure (and they were young we must remember) but the whole drinking thing was quite a bit overblown at the time. There were incidents, but nothing over the top and nothing that hasnt occurred on most every team in the last 20 years at some point.

Holmgren had to make a choice though and he opted for the vets to stay. Didn't work out in the end, but his decision was easy enough to understand.

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

John Hoven speculates Nashville could be interested in Richards

The Mayor John Hoven @mayorNHL
Said that Nashville should be interested in Mike Richards. Badly needed depth at center. Need a winner. Plus connection to coach. #Preds

The Mayor John Hoven @mayorNHL
#Preds also have not been able to attract top notch free agents. Here is a chance to get a guy under LT contract without giving up assets.

Nashville might have the best center depth in the league.

They might not have a #1, but they have 8 centers on their NHL roster at the present time.

[sureLoss]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Nashville might have the best center depth in the league.

They might not have a #1, but they have 8 centers on their NHL roster at the present time.

and of those 8 only 2 are signed past this season IIRC. One being Forsberg who doesn't even take draws.

personally I think Hoven is grasping at straws, but on some levels it kind of, sort of, maybe makes sense.

[kn]

Originally Posted by sureLoss

Putting Richards in the AHL only gives the Kings an additional $925k in cap space.

I'm not up to speed with the new CBA. How is this number determined considering his $5.75 million AAV cap hit?